Electric conversions-- on the way?

[90weekender]

That i8 motor above is for the front axle only.

[markswagen]

i believe EV west in vista california are working on a vanagon kit, i know they bought a vanagon so they could build a kit for them, there's nothing on their site about it yet, so they've not finished it yet.

https://evwest.com/catalog/
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markswagen {mobile mechanic} san diego area all early VW's cared for.

619 201 0310

[pinetreeporsche]

[90weekender]

I drive an i3 with the range extender and feel the best retrofitted drive train for an adventure van that travels long ranges will ultimately be more like the i8. Under 45mph its all electric but when you get on the highway above 45mph the high efficiency combustion engine kicks in to carry you at high speeds. This allows us to have a relatively smaller (light weight and inexpensive) battery than a fully electric vehicle, which is cost prohibitive for most retrofitters.

[90weekender]

I personally would like to see a bolt-on electrification of the font axel in an after market kit that leaves the original engine and transmission in place. With the vast array of pick up truck lift kits that employ simple welded steel tubes and brackets, I would gues a bolt on kit is achievable with flipped audio rear diffs. Batteries and electronics would be easily handled by the like of EV West.

[markswagen]

i have two customers in the same street, as one of the guys who works there, maybe even he's the owner, i've not talked to him, i tagged his split bus crewcab, several times with my business card, until i realized that he worked there.

i have a few vans in vista also, but by the time i'm usually done working, i need to head home, so i don't have time to go have a look see.

[Abscate]

[wesitarz]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_H3LWgNsVk/youtube

[MuzzcoVW]

Personally I hope not. I would have no interest in any of my classic VWs if they were electric...but that's just me

[DuncanS]

United--Understand, but after we're gone, I expect our kids or grandchildren won't be permitted to drive them unless they have been converted, so it doesn't hurt to keep abreast of developments.

Personally, I would love to have an EV T3.

If this doesn't look like the chassis of a T3, i don't know what does.

So I don't see any real change other than the lack of noise, fumes and all the thousands of Vanagon Syndrome and related issues.

And how 'bout all the storage where the engine used to be?

[pnwkayaker]

I truly love my Syncro (much more with the Suby conversion), however, I'm seeing the signs in the road and I truly believe in 10 yrs or less the majority of the cars in the market will be electric. As such, I'm starting to do some research on EV conversions. I won't pull the trigger at the current prices, but in 10 yrs (?) very likely if technology continues improving at the current rate and prices keep falling.

My dream setup is a 1,000 mile range (even if it takes a couple days to recharge). Why 1,000 mile? Because I believe that's how much I'd need to comfortable travel to the Arctic Circle via Alaska and don't have to constantly worry about recharging options.

If people haven't watched the video of the T3SLA posted earlier, I strongly suggest you do, that' a very smooth ride!

[Mac_Daddy_Westy]

https://www.canoo.com/

with Norway, predominately going towards EVs, the battery range in cold climate will improve more and more in the near future, Solid State and Graphene battery technology in fast improving as well as the fast charging stations being implement world-wide.

it is a matter of time that an EV conversion company, will create a bolt on kit for T3 Vanagons, its the perfect candidate.

the link above, showcase CANOO, a soon to in production has the right idea with their skateboard platform and Drive-by-wire steering technology to bring a perhaps new EVs Van to market,

but I still like to tinker with my ICE Westfalia for now...but knowing what's coming with EVs chatter is interesting....
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'87 Westy with 2.5 Subi (auto trans)

[VicVan]

Here's a (maybe not so) crazy idea: a removable on-board gas generator for long trips.

Most of the trips I do with my van are short-distance (granted, I live on an Island). It's either commuting, hauling stuff around town, or going camping 100 or 200 km away. Something EV cars do perfectly, and that an EV Vanagon would do perfectly.
For the once a year long-haul-more-than-1000 km-road-trip, you install a compact generator on the bikerack or wherever, and it charges your battery as you go (that's how the Prius works, the onboard gas engine is only here to recharge the battery, it's not connected to the wheels).
It may seem weird, but to me it makes sense rationally. You're not buying superfancy 1000 km autonomy batteries that you'll use only a few weeks a year.

all in all, you're decreasing your emissions by maybe 90%, while not making any compromise on the fun and travel range. Sounds like a good deal to me.
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'90 Little Blue Truck, 2WD auto, FAS GenV 2.0 NA (AVH)

[RoryGirl]

This is a bolt-in kit for a Land Rover...but there's a Westy in the background - so maybe there's a kit on the way for us too?


Link

[dabaron]

[DuncanS]

Pretty impressive. 450 HP?? I wonder what would be appropriate for a T3? I'm OK with the 2.1 WBX, but a little more might be nice. The question is what HP do you need so running at a 2.1 + performance level would give the most range. No O2 green shielded wire issue, no throttle body, no idle speed control, no anything to speak of. What a lot of sense this makes. Batteries where the fuel tank is, over the tranny spot and under the floor. I can't imagine 225 miles wouldn't be possible without being a lead foot.

Noticed the Westy in the background of the video had a patch welded over the fuel cap. Maybe this one is in the process of being converted.

Cost? Never came up, but has to be north of 20. How much is an FAS gen 5?

Want one.

Duncan

[davideric9]

Electric Motor mounted to syncro transaxle. It's not mine, but I did have the opportunity to drive it. I had to tell the owner that gas is now over $6 a gallon, he didn't know.

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1987 Syncro Westfalia, stock (bought 1994)
1986 Syncro Westfalia SVX, 3 knob (bought 2008)
1987 Westfalia (bought 2010)
1988 Wolfsburg GL (bought 2012)

[Abscate]

[MsTaboo]

[dabaron]